This bike tour will take you through the South-Eastern region of Sicily, so very rich of historical and natural treasures. This area is known as the Val di Noto, completely rebuild, after the terrible earthquake which struck in 1693, in the elegant Baroque style which still characterizes it nowadays. This tour, which winds its way through the Hyblaean Mountains, will accompany you to the most famous Baroque towns such as Palazzolo Acreide, Modica, Scicli and Noto, the most important and elegant of all. Siracusa, the ancient Greek colony, will be the reward that waits for you at the end of your tour. The coastlines are a wealth of history and nature and boast wonders like the Oasi of Vendicari, the fishing hamlet of Marzamemi and the Islands of Capo Passero and delle Correnti.
Day 1: arrival in Palazzolo Acreide
Individual arrival at Palazzolo Acreide, handover of the bikes and the roadbook and maps with all the information you will need.
Day 2: Palazzolo Acreide > Modica, ~58 km (36 miles)
Before you start cycling today, we suggest visiting the historical Old Town of Palazzolo Acreide, with its many baroque building and the churches San Sebastiano and San Paolo, two wonderful examples of Sicilian Baroque. Then you will cycle through the beautiful territory of the Monti Iblei, a unique landscape, where rugged and wild areas alternate with pleasant green scenery, characterized by the typical stonewalls. The stage stops in Ragusa Ibla, one of the most beautiful baroque towns onf the “Val di Noto”, picturesquely located on a hilltop, and ends in Modica, another baroque jewel of our tour. Do not miss to visit the church of San Giorgio.
Day 3: Modica > Pozzallo, ~42 km (26 miles)
Before you leave Modica you should taste the famous chocolate, e.g. spiced with hot chili peppers. The recipe has been brought from the Aztecs by the Spaniards to Sicily. Cruising downhill through a beautiful Iblei canyon, you will arrive at Scicli, another city of the “Val di Noto” and well worth a stroll through the small alleys, before you continue down to the coast to Pozzallo with its long sandy beaches. The perfect opportunity to finish the stage with a refreshing bath in the sea.
Day 4: Pozzallo > Marzamemi, ~57 km (35 miles)
This day the road will be completely flat. You will pass through some typical wetlands, the “Patano Longarini” and “Patano Cuba”, a popular stopover amongst the migratory birds on their trips between Africa and Europe. Cycling along the shore you will reach the southernmost point of Sicily, the island “Isola delle Correnti”, which lies on the same latitude as Tunis and marks the watershed between the Ionian and the Mediterranean Sea. Continuing through Portopalo di Capo Passero and Marzamemi, an ancient fishing village, you will finish your ride in San Lorenzo.
Day 5: Marzamemi > Noto, ~34 km (21 miles)
On a flat road heading north along the coast, you will reach the entrance to the natural preserve and wildlife sanctuary “Oasi di Vendicari”, a wonderful and uncontaminated coast full of interesting plants and rare birds like pink flamingos and kingfisher. You will then continue to the inland, through vineyards to Noto. Noto is the capital of Sicilian Baroque with numerous magnificent palazzi and churches.
Day 6: Noto > Syrakus, ~41-58 km (24-36 miles)
Today you have two options. Either following the coast further up north. Or a detour through the inland to the vista point of the Cavagrande del Cassible gorge and then a spectacular downhill with hairpins to the coast. Along the coast, you continue to Siracusa, the metropolis of ancient Greece, where you certainly will want to visit the stunning archaeological park with one of the biggest Greek theatres of the Magna Graecia. You should finish the day with a stroll through the picturesque historical centre, the Island Ortigia.
Day 7: individual departure or extra nights
End of tour and individual departure or extension with additional days. We recommend visiting the fascinating Ortigia island, the historical and cultural centre of the city. The Old Town of Siracusa captivates immediately with more than 3000 years of history and archeological evidence of practically all great civilizations of the Mediterranean. Also in Ortigia is the lively Fishmarket of Syracuse.
